The Somerset reporter., 1887-12-21

1t is the most important of ri. cOnsdera-
tions, It involves the support of the
| Christian ministry, good district schools
managed by well qualified teachers and
enlarged system OF public instruction,
and school libraries well supplied with
books. If it Is possible you should Sc
cure Ut once good library for every
Subordinate Grange, well supplied With
periodicals and agricultural reading We
should sustain the Agricultural papers of
the STATE for there are 10 Tapers thai are
more entitled to public confidence aud
patronage than the Maine Farmer and
the Eastern Farmer
Book Farming i-a source Of eteH
! profit WHEN It's teachings are properly fol-
/ lowed BY industrious and careful practice.
| and vou cannot have it without the print
/ ed page. It j. lamcntable fact tint
! there are many Patrons Who do not take
m agricultural paper. They rely t9p
much upon their party or religious paper.
/, il not a reasonable conclusion thai lht-
negligence i one Of the fruitful causes Of
dormant Oranges and Indifferent member
ship; Sustain the Grange press every
where and do not let its warm and bcnc-
ticial influence be chilled by cold neglect
The Ordei Of r Of II. in the State ef
Maine, since its fri organization, nearly
fourteen years ago, has passed through
period Of .'l.ht and shadow, but not
Wth~tanding ~ome opposition and many
rcycr,es the Grange has steadily advanced,
and to-day we haze larger number ol
active Subordinate 2o91 Oranges, more
Pomona Cl6J Oranges, and larger mem
bcrship than at any former time. II Is
not altogether our numerical strength,
but the intellectual development, the so
Cial culture the moral lessons, the fnan-
Cial benefit of the Grange which consli-
tutc our pride and citadel of strength.
The weekly meetings OF the Grange have
accomplished a grand work, and educated
the farmer in t4osc special lessons Which
when understood and practiced cannot
fail to advance our eauSe, by developing a
better and higher manhood and woman
hood among ourselves. The Grange has
created an unimpaired confidence and
faith, at least among its members that
by united effort and cooperation we can
secure through the Grange all those privi-
legcs and rights in society, in public en-
deavOr, in our State and National le@i sla
live Departments Of Government, which
as a class belong To us. Experience also
teaches us that we can expect no immedi-
ate satisfaction or general results fr IN
any other source Therefore we are
stronger and Loyalty welded to our Deela-
ration OF Purposes, and the grand work
for which the Grange commenced It's mis-
sion, pledged its active life, which Is the
elevation and protection of the American
farmer " hat more inspiring and worthy
sentiment in the range of thought We
have no good reason to complain of the
Legislative, Executive or Judicial Depart
mcnts of our State Government. Our
legislature has been wisely liberal to all
of our demands We should be grateful
for the generous appropriations of the
public funds which have been made for
our State and County Agricultural Fairs
for the Board Of Agriculture and Farmers
Institutes, for the encouragement Of rails
ing choice cattle for the prevention of
contagious diseases among our cattle. for
our State Agricultural college, and for
several other farming interests which
now each year aggregate S35.uOO. The
people have properly elected To our legi,-
laturc Just portion Of farmers, and in
our town and county financial manage
mcnt the farmer often times appears at
the front. In the present condition of
public affairs we do not need a farmers
political party, for we can exercise adc-
uuatp independence when we fail of Il
proper recognition, and when We act to-
gcther. the ballot bon IS in our own hands
! would recommend that the farmers in
their own political parties continue 10
nominate and elect from their own class
such IA numerical strength of representa-
tiVcs and senators, and other officers a
will protect the farming interests of the
State by cquulizing the burden of taAa-
tion, and by votes and influence aid in di-
recting public policy in the interests of
that integrity which can never be cor
rnptcd by money, corporate ur class in
aucnce, or political patronage
Iur CLAIMS OF THE srAIE or MAINE.
There has been for many years an in
crcasiug trLdcnCy on the part Of onr
people u 20 west, and our agricultural
towns lave constantly been diminishing
in populations Ii is pertinent question,
whether such changes bring with them
any corresponding advantage The an
sWcr rest, upon the investigation Of
facts. Statistics show that the acreage
production OF many of the staples crops
of the country, and all of the productions
of northern latitude are Oh the average
as large and Often times large in Name
than i'm any other section of the country.
We can with more profit harvest gra>s
hay, buckNhCat, oalS and rye, pptatucS
and large variety of vegetables; we can
produce milk, butter and cheese from our
dairics and raise cattle, horscS, poultry.
mutton aud veal and many kinds Of
fruit and all that can be harvested and
marketed with rs great yield and profit
as in any state Of this jnion. The truth
of this statement rests upon reliable
statistics furnished by the Agricultural
Stalistican connected with the a9rl-
cultural department at Washington. our
land and climate are well adapted for
iti,tl In fut
of farm success everywhere; if this bc
true, why should our farmers leave the
state for less productive sections of the
cuuntryY There are some circumstances
which give to the West peculiar alyant-
ages in the production of wheat and corn,
beef and pork, and wool. New and un
cultivated lands are cheaper than in
Maine but the enormous yield of brtad-
stuff, the profit to the mi idle man, which
come from the pockets Of the producer,
and the high cost Of transportation to the
distant markets of the East, which rcgu-
lite the law of supply and demand, leave
often ines little or no margin of profits
to the Western farmers We are near
many home markets, and nearer the
great markets of the nation and the
world, and do not suiliI i'll consequence
Of these comparative inequalities and
burdens, and tac many other kinds Of
proyidcntial yisitatiOus of drought,
tempest and hostile insect which are 50
common in other sections of the country.
The virgin soil of Maine suitable for
agriculture is generally fruitful with
mineral clement. which gives it ondur-
ancc. strength and ability to resist
drnughtS. while the soil Of the Nest
wonderfully productive At first, in the
procp.s of time loses its producing power.